I've never blogged before. I've thought about it a few times, while reading the blogs of some of my friends. What a great way to keep the family caught up, I thought, especially the ones who live out of town, but I just never jumped in and created my own. Why? Who knows. Maybe because it would take too much time, or maybe because I would actually have make some decisions - What would I call it? What colors would I use? What will I put on it? I'm the most indecisive person I know. I thought "who would read it?". Half the time it seems like I can't get anyone to listen to me when I talk, so who'd sit here and read my random thoughts?
But yesterday, I found my friend. Not just A friend, but THE friend. You know, that one person who you were closer to than anyone else. Who never judged you or made fun of you even when you really kind of deserved it. The one you'll never forget. Yeah, THAT friend. We were best girlfriends in junior high. We were together every minute, either at her house or mine. I spent more time with her, than I did with my own family. Till we moved away. She was in Michigan, I was now in Missouri. There was no email then, and long distance was expensive, so we would write letters. We saw each other once or twice, but then eventually lost touch.
Over the years, I'd think about her alot. I'd wonder what she was doing, if everything was ok in her life, if she would ever think about me after all this time. I tried many times to find her again, and finally I did. Turns out she DID think about me, and was doing the same things trying to find me, too. Yesterday we talked, and even though everything is so much different now, it was like nothing had changed at all.
So why am I blogging? Because I want to catch up on her life, see pictures of her kids, keep in touch. I know this time we won't let it happen, but in case something should happen - a move, a new email address, a changed phone number - there WILL be a way for us to find each other.
So I'm blogging now, because I won't lose my friend again.
About Me
- Toni
- I like to read, I love to listen to music. I love rainy nights and thunderstorms. My favorite season is winter - I love the snow. I wish we had more of it here. I love Disney, I seemed to have developed a 'thing' for watches, I like reality tv, cheesy as it is. I love ice cream, Friends, Seinfeld, coffee, & Milky Way bars.
mom
my beautiful mother
Brandi & Doug
Robbie
Stephanie with Baby Nick
6 comments:
Toni, this is my third attempt to respond to this message. So rather than write a 10 page responce, let's see if this will go through. lol
Missy
Well, you have worded this so well. I first read this in front of my 6 year old and she wants to know why I am crying and smiling at the same time. Try to explain the difference between happy tears and sad tears.
I have read this several times and I still can not believe that you found me.
The day that Ashley called me at work and told me that she thought she found my friend, I had to leave work. The feeling's I had were overwhelming and I could not wait to tell my mother, or anyone who would listen.
I left work and went straight to my mother's place of work (beauty shop) and in front of everyone, read the first letter you sent Ashley. You said "she was my best friend and she would remember me, my name is Toni". I cried in front of everyone. I was overwhelmed with joy. Everybody had tears in their eyes after I read it outloud. Can you believe I did this in front of complete strangers! We should reunite on Opra or something.
The first phone call, I left you a message, you thought I was a telemarketer. I could hardly wait to actually speak to you. I was afraid too. Afraid that there have been so much time between us, what if you did'nt like me?
The first time I spoke to you I knew nothing had changed, except a few grey hairs for me, and maybe a few pounds. OK, more than a few pounds.
I imagine what it will be like the first time I actually get to see you in person. Bring the klenex. You spoke about being an insomniac, I am quit sure the first night together we will be up all night like 2 teanagers catching up on all that we have gone through. At least I know we will listen to one another, lol.
Well, I need to get back to work.
Love ya like a sister and can not wait to see you!
Missy
Do you like to karaoke? What kind of music do you like? Do you have a led foot? Do you like horseback riding? Do you scrapebook? Do you golf? What do you do for fun in MO? I do not do much but go to work and come home. At one point in my life I belonged to the Hill Billy Rockers. A line dance group. We would dance at nursing homes and at the friendship shell and at some clubs. My stepmom belonged to it as well, so did my stepsister. That is how I met my husband. He must have liked the dance. I miss that. They still do it, but the group broke up. There are about 5 gals that still learn new dances. Last friday when I first talked to you, they were there. Although it had been some time,I still tagged along with them.
I went by your old house and they really did alot to it. You would be surprised. I was thinking, if there is anything you would like me to take a picture of before I see you, let me know. I would be glad to.
Well my dad is coming over, so I will be sure to show him some of our correspondance.
My partner at work is on vacation this week. I have known her for about 22 years. I E-mailed her over the week-end and today was the first she has been able to use her laptop. I told her all about you. Can't wait to tell her more.. Anyways, with her gone my workload increases. We cover for each other.
Jerry is still saying maybe the first 2 weeks in november. Can't wait.
bye for now........
missy
This is such a cool story, Toni. My best friend (from elementary school on up)just moved to Arizona. I couldn't imagine being seperated like this when we were younger with no email, etc. This is so awesome. I am so happy for both of you!
Toni,
I find it interesting to know that both of our favorite food is Mexican, beverage of choice is diet coke, we raised our children in the Lutheran schools, and we both had a dashound. WE both had to find new homes for our dogs for the same reasons. After all these years you truely are like a sister to me and I love ya!
Missy
Well Toni,here it goes.
Ashley, she is my oldest. Her birthday is February 6th. She turned 21 this year. That was quite an experience for me and I shared that with you on the phone. Things sure have changed at the "Westown" since I used to go there.
Anyway, Ashley is truely my athelete. She can play any sport and plays with her heart. That is what her coach told me once. In high school, she was the starter on the basketball team. I can not explain how proud I was during that time in her life. It was difficult for me to sit still during the game. I used to say she was keeping my arteries cleaned out because my heart would beat so fast out of excitement for her.
Currently she has "a friend". She tells me that he is just a friend. However, they are always together. His name is Brad and I just adore him. He is a financial advisor. As a matter of fact, he bought a house down where you used to live. On the corner of Bangor and Smith. Imagine that. Ashley told me that they played 35 games of tennis yesterday. Too much energy for me.
Ashley was definitly my tomboy. I had a difficult time getting that girl to wear a dress. Still to this day, she will wear her boy "friends" shorts/shirts and she will look like a million. She is very beautiful and is well put together. She is very confident and is sure of herself. At this point in her life she is starting to like to dress up. She too likes fancy dresses, the kind that you would wear to a wedding.
This summer, I seen a different side of her. Her giddoo past away. Giddoo is grandpa in arabic. He had cancer. Ashley's dad and aunt wanted to put him in Brians House. This is a place for terminal individuals who are at the end. Her Sittoo, (grandma)wanted him to stay home. I wanted to support that and told Ashley she would have to debate with her father. She stood up to him in a very difficult situation, she wanted to support what her grandparents wanted. She promised her dad that she would stay with them and do whatever it took to keep him home. She did. The night before he passed, she sat on the couch and told her aunt that she could'nt watch him like this anymore. That night she stayed at a friends house. He passed away while she was gone. I believe he heard her say that. Although this was very difficult for us all, I was proud how she handled this all. Ashley was a true advocate for her giddoo. If she believe that a nurse was not following through, she told. It did not matter what the persons job title was, but she does know right from wrong and is not afraid to let her opinion be known. She should be a lawyer.
Ok, Hailee. I was not sure if I wanted anymore children. Ashley was already in high school. But Jerry had not had any children. So we decided to try. I said, if God want's us to have a child, then he will make it happen. After 4 month's of trying, it happened. It only took a moment to have Ashley. Hailee was born on January 17th, 2001.
Hailee is definitly my girlie girl. Just like Stephanie, she likes the dresses that twirl. The more the better, and if they don't twirl, then she don't like them. One day her dad dressed her for school last year and her had put blue jeans on. She stood there, threw her hands in the air, cried, and said "do you think this looks pretty"?
Hailee is my cheerleader. Her team has placed 2 years in a row and has gone to state competition. She now has 4 trophies. They are so cute when they are little. We tried dance class one session, and she wanted to go back to cheerleading 1/2 way thru the classes. So we did. I do not believe in forcing them to do something they are not passionate about.
Growing up, Hailee was my sick baby. I had her in and out of the doctor's for congestion all the time. Finally, I told her doctor if he did not give me a referral to a allergy specialist, then I was going to change doctors. It was then, one and a half years ago, that I discovered that she had allergy induced asthma. She was allergic to mold, feathers, dust mites and rabbit hair. I had her sleeping on a feather pillow!
The specialist recommended no carpeting or stuffed animals in her room. Get her a new mattress. Cover the mattress with a plastic protector and wash the bed down weekly.
That day, I bought her new bed and bedding. Took all of her stuffed animals out of her room. Ripped out her carpet and that next day, I installed a new wood floor. Her dad took her upnorth for the weekend while I did this. I told him not to come home for weekend and I would have it done.
One month later at a follow up appointment with the specialist, Hailee had shown much improvement and the doctor told me I get an "A". I forgot to tell you that he put her on 4 different medications and a nebulizer machine. Three months ago, we started taking her off some of the meds, and we only use the nebulizer machine if she is showing symptoms.
Hailee is excited for school. Yesterday we went and had her school pictures taken at Wal-mart. I will be sure to send you one. I am not sure how she will like the school work thing, but she is definitly the social butterfly. She gets along with everyone.
Things I have missed with you. I wished that you could have seen all the birthday parties, Ashleys graduation, my "weddings", Christmas, New Years, all of those special time. I want you to know that about 6 weeks ago now, I wondered if you would ever look for me, and there you were 2 weeks later, talking with Ashley. All of these things that we have missed in each others lives we can talk about. In the future we can share. I look forward to us and I know that there are alot of years that have gone by, but we sure do still have alot in common and we share some of the same interest. I am proud to have you back in my life!
Love you like a sister,
Missy
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